Refrigerator



Jan. 4, 1944. w. R. HAINSWORTH REFR I GERATOR I Filed July 19. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Willidm R. Hainsworth ATTORNEY.

Jan. 4, 1944.

W. R. HAINSWORTH REFRIGERATOR Filed July 19. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

William R. Hainsworth ATTORNEY.

1944- w. R. HAINSWORTH 2,338,284

REFRIGERATOR Filed July 19. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

William R Hainsworfh ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 4, 1944 REFRIGERATOR William R. Hainsworth, Larchmont,- N. Y., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to a corporation of Delaware Servel, Inc.,

Application July 19, 1932, Serial'No. 623,323 Renewed April 17, 1935 27 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerators and more particularly to those for household use.

In household refrigerators it is usually necessary to provide for freezing ice cubes and also cooling air in the storage compartment to a temperature suitable for the preservation of comestibles. Obviously, freezing water and cooling air require different forms and arrangements of the cooling element which, to a necessarily limited extent, must be incorporated in one design when a single cooling element or evaporator is utilized. For instance, the cooling element must have sufficient surface for contact with the ice trays and be maintained at a temperature sufiiciently low for the freezing of water, and at the same time present a sufllcient amount of surface for adequate heat transfer from the air. Furthermore, it must be located within the food storage compartment in a manner to allow adequate circulation of the air.

In accordance with this invention a small cool ing element or evaporator may be used, insulated 4 from the storage compartment, if desired, to prevent frosting, thereby attaining quicker freezing of water in the ice traysadapted to be contained in the freezing chamber of the cooling element. This also results in more storage space for a given gross volume of cabinet. Furthermore, the cooling element may be located very near to a wall or comer of the cabinet, which afiords a further saving in space.

Also in accordance with this invention, freezing of the ice cubes may be effected at a low temperature and the air cooled at a higher temperature, giving greater efficiency of unit operation without any reduction in storage space due to the use of large finnedx surfaces otherwise necessary.

The above is accomplished by utilizing the metal liner of a refrigerator cabinet for cooling the storage compartment. This also presents the advantage that there is less tendency toward decreased air circulation due to overcrowded shelves, the cooling surface being extended over the inner walls of the cabinet rather than localized in a small evaporator at the top of the storage compartment. I

This invention further contemplates a refrigerator comprising a cabinet and refrigerating apparatus rem .wably assembled therewith as a unit, the evaporator orcooling element forming a part of the unit and located within the storage compartment when the cabinet and apparatus unit are assembled, and heat transfer from the liner being accomplished by means of a permanent secondary cooling system' having its heat absorbing portion in heat exchange relation with the liner and its heat rejecting portion positioned so as to be in heat exchange relation with the primary cooling element when the cabinet and apparatus unit are assembled. This invention may also be carried out by providing the refrigerating apparatus unit with two cooling elements or a single cooling element in two sections, one of which is positioned within the storage compartment and the other in heat exchange relation with the liner when the cabinet and apparatus unit are assembled.

This invention will be more thoroughly understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 shows schematically, in vertical section, a refrigerator contemplated by this invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a vertical section showing a modified cooling element arrangement;

Fig. 5, a section taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a vertical section showing a further cooling element modification;

Fig. '7, a section taken on line 1-1 in Fig. 6;

and 1 r Fig. 8, a section taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 7.

Referring to the embodiment of this invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a refrigerator cabinet is provided with a food storage compartment ll closed by walls of heat insulating material Ill and made accessible by aheat insulated door 12.

volve any particular form of refrigerating unit,

any type known in the art being employed. If the apparatus is to be cooled by air, openings, not shown, may be provided in the bottom of chamber 13 and the top of chamber ll affording a flue draft as well known in the art. For suitabl refrigerating apparatus, reference may be had to Patent No. 1,838,041, C. E. Ploeger et aL, which discloses a unit of the compression type,

' cabinet to allow the maximum ception of trays containing water for freezing ice cubes.

Integrally with the refrigerating unit there is provided a wall section or closure member 22 through which extend the evaporator connections l8 and I9. This wall section is adapted to fit within and close an opening or window 23 in the wall of the storage compartment II when the refrigerating unit is mounted in position. In practice it is usual to make the rear wall 24 of the cabinet removable so that the refrigerating apparatus including the wall section 22, evaporator l1, and chilliator 20, may be readily inserted or removed as a unit.

In the present embodiment of this invention the refrigerator cabinet is provided with an integral secondary cooling system which comprises coils'25 and 26 connected by conduit 21. The lower coil 25 is preferably embedded in a metal block 28 which is secured in good thermal contact with the liner l5 of the storage compartment H. The upper coil 26 is also cast in a metal block 29 which is located in such a position as to be in thermal contact with the chilliator 20 when the refrigerating unit is assembled in the cabinet as illustrated. Obviously, better thermal contact will be obtained by drawing together the upper coil 26, the condensate returning to thelower coil by gravity through conduit 21. This cycle is due to the temperature difference maintained by the cold chilliator 20, which is in thermal exchange ,relation with the upper coil 26, relative to the warmer air in contact with the liner l5 which receives heat by leakage into the cabinet and from the substances being refrigerated. Thus the liner [5 is cooled by heat trans fer through the secondary system to the'chillia'tor 20.

Due to the fact that the chilliator 20 does not cool the storage compartment except through i, the secondary cooling system it does not require extensive heat radiating surface and therefore may be made as small as desired, the dimensions being limited only by the size and number of 'ice cube trays to be accommodated. Furthermore, the chilliator maybe provided with a heat insulating covering, not shown, to prevent frosting, and located very close to a corner of the storage space in the compartment II. V

In the 'emb diment illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5,

this invention' is carried out without the use of a secondary cooling fluid. The evaporator l1 and bottom of the evaporator ll to the refrigerating apparatus l6 there is provided an additional cooling element in the form of a coil 30 embedded in a cast metal block 3|. Through this coil passes the cool gas from the evaporate; as it flows in conduit 40. As best shown in Fig. 4, theliner I5 adjacent the window or opening 23 is provided with a backing member 32 which may be formed by a metalblock brazed or welded in place. The metal block 3| in which is embedded the cooling coil 30 is adapted to be positioned against the fixed block 32 when the refrigerating unit is assembled'in the cabinet and may be secured thereto by bolts 33 to insure good thermal conduction. Obviously this embodiment is only illustrative and the. invention may be readily carried out by utilizing separate evaporators, an evaporator in two sections, or any known type of two-temperature evaporator.

Referring to the modification illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the arrangement is the same as in Fig. 1 except that in place of the secondary evaporating coil embedded in the block 28 gations 35 interconnected'by channels 36." The,

pressed metal sheet 34 is placed against the liner 1-5 and brazed or welded around the edges and between the corrugations, thereby closing the open side of.the grid pressed in the sheet and forming a secondary evaporator which is connected through conduit 3! to theupper condensing coil 38 embedded in a cast metal block39. The latter is located in such a position as to be in good thermal contact with the chilliator?!) when the refrigerating unit is assembled in the cabinet. Obviously the pressed metal sheet forming the secondary evaporator may be located on either the inside or outside of the liner I5. If located on the inside it should be porcelained together with the liner.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes may be made in the construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention and "therefore the inventionis not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the following claims.

chilliator 20 are the same as previously described.

and the inlet connection to the evaporator from the refrigerating unit I6 is through conduit 3.

However, in the outlet connection 40 from the I claim:

1. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated storage compartment, a liner of heat conducting material forv said compartment, heat conducting means including said liner, and refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element adapted to receive icel'freezing trays, said refrigeration apparatus being removably assembled as a unit with said cabinet in such a manner that said cooling element extends within said vstorage compartment and is in thermal exchange relation with said heat conducting means.

2. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a food storage compartment, a liner of heat conducting material forming the inner wall surface of said compartment, a secondary heat transfer system having a heat absorbing portion and a heat rejecting portion, said heat absorbingpor- .tion being in thermal contact with saidliner so that heat is conducted from air in said compart ment through said liner to said heat absorbing portion, and refrigerationapparatus including a cooling element having chambers for ice freez ing molds or the like, said apparatus being removably assembled as a unit with said cabinet so that said cooling lementand-said heat re- J'ecting portion are in thermal exchange relation.

3. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a heat insulated compartment; provided with a metallic liner forming the inner wall surface thereof, said cabinet having a door affording access to said compartment, a secondary evaporating-condensing system having an evaporating portion and a condensing portion, said evaporating portion being in thermal contact with said liner so that heat from air in said compartment is conducted through said liner to said evaporating portion, and refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element in heat exchange relation with said condensing portion, said cooling element being positioned and arranged in said cabinet so that said door afiords access thereto.

4. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a .compartment bounded by.. a wall of heat conducting material, a sealed pipe coil containing a cooling fluid and having a lower portion and an of said compartment, a conduit connected to said chamber and forming therewith a sealed circuit for heat transfer fluid, and a cooling element in thermal exchange relation with said conduit, said cooling element being positioned and arranged in said cabinet so that said. door affords access thereto.

9. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated compartment, a metallic liner forming the inner wall surface of said canpartment, a pressed metal sheet secured to said liner to form with a portion thereof a chamber, a conduit connected to said chamberand forming therewith a sealed system for heat transfer upper portion, said lower portion being in thermal contact with said wall so that heat from air in said compartment is conducted through said wall to said coil, and refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element, said apparatus being removably assembled as a unit with said cabinet so that said cooling element is in thermal exchange relation with said upper coil portion.

5. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet' having a compartment, a metallic liner forming the inner Wall surface of said compartment, a pipe coil embedded in a body of metal secured to said liner so that heat from air in said compartment ows through said liner to said coil, a second coil embedded in a second body of metal and connected to said first coil, said coils forming a sealed circuit for a secondary heat transfer fluid, and refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element, said apparatus being removably assembled as a unit with said cabinet so that said cooling element is in thermal contact with said second body of metal ,containingvsaid second coil.

6. A refrigerator. comprising a cabinet having a compartment, a lining of heat conductingmaterial forming th inner wall surface of said compartment, refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element having two portions, one portion of said cooling element having a chamber for ice freezing molds or the like, said apparatus being removably assembled as a unit with said cabinet so that said first portion of the cooling element extends within said compartment and the other portion is in thermal contact with said lining so that heat from air in said compartment flows through said lining to said other portion of the cooling element.

7. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a storage compartment, a metallic liner forming the inner wall surface of said compartment, a cooling element having achamber for ice freezing molds or the like, and a second cooling element in thermal contact with said liner so that heat from air in said compartment flows throughv fluid, and refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element having a chamber for ice freezing molds or the like, said apparatus being removably assembled as a unit with. said cabinet and said-cooling element being in r thermal exchange relation with said conduit.

10. A refrigerator comprising. a cabinet having a compartment, a liner of heat conducting material forming the inner wall surface of said compartment, a system for heat transfer fluid having a heat absorbing portion and a heat rejecting portion, said heat absorbing portion being formed by pressed sheet metal secured to said liner and forming with a portion thereof a fluid chamber of a height appreciably less than the height of said compartment, and refrigeration apparatus including an evaporator .within said compartment and in thermal exchange rel ion with said heat rejecting portion.

11. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a compartment, a metallic liner forming the inner wall surface of said compartment, a sealed system for heat transfer fluid having a heat absorbing portion and a heat rejecting portion, said heat absorbing portion being of a height appreciably less than the height of said compartment and formed as a fluid chamber between a portion of said liner and a member secured thereto, and refrigeration apparatus including,acoolingelement wall surface of said compartment, a sealed cir- 1 cuit for heat transfer fluid having a heat rejecting portion and a heat absorbing portion, said heat rejecting portion being formed by a pipe coil in a metal casting and said heat absorbing 7 portion being of a height appreciably less than the height of said compartment and formed as a fluid chamber between a portion of said liner and pressed sheet metal secured thereto, said heat rejecting portion being adapted to be arranged in thermal exchange relation with the cooling element of a refrigeration unit.

13. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated compartment, a liner of heat conducting material forming the inner wall surface of said compartment, a sealed system for heat transfer fluid having a heat absorbing portion and a'heat rejecting portion, said heat ab,- sorbing p rtion being in heat exchange relation with said liner so that heat from air in said compartment is conducted through said liner to said heat absorbing portion, and refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element wholly within said compartment and in heat exchange relation with said heat rejecting portion.

14. In a refrigerator provided with an opening in one of its walls and a metal shell enclosinga chamber for the storage of goods to be cooled;

2,338,284 I g I v I ment, said first cooling element being disposed the combination with 'said'shell of an evaporator arranged to maintain refrigerant in good thermal contact with said shell, a condenser connected'with said evaporator, aclosure structure including a cooling elementarranged in position to absorb heat from said condenser and pipes connected to said'cooling element for conducting being of such size and so'related to said condenser, and' said 'pi'pfs' 1 extending from said cooling element in such directionthat said element .ing refrigerant to and-from the same; said open may be moved through said opening into or out of 1 said position without-disconnecting said pipes from saidelement. v

I5. A structure as defined in'claim 14in which saidcondenser and said coolingelement are not structurally connected with each other.

16. A -refrigerating machine including a cabinet having thermally insulated walls providing a compartment to be cooled, a liner for said compartment, 'and means' including an evaporator comprising a sheet of metal secured'face to face with said liner for cooling said compartment, said sheet having indentations therein providing a plurality of refrigerant-passages between'said sheet and said liner, one of saidpassages serving as a connection to which other passages I are joined at their upper ends to provide parallel paths of'fiow for refrigerant.

17, A refrigerating'machine includinga cabinet having thermally insulated walls providing a compartment to be cooled, a' liner for said com partment, andmeans including an evaporator arranged within said walls and comprising a sheet of metal secured faceto'face with said liner for cooling said compartment, said' sheet having inin a'major part of said liner.

dentations providing aplurality of refrigerant passages of: which two serve as lateral connec-. tionsv to which other vertically extending passages are joined at their upper and lower ends.

18. A refrigerating machine including a cabinet having thermally insulated walls providing a compartment to be cooled, a liner for said compart ment, and means including an'evaporator com-- prising a sheet of metal secured face to face with said liner for cooling said compartment, said.

evaporator comprising across flow connector and refrigerant conduits arranged-between said I sheet and said liner,said conduits being joined to said connector to provide parallel paths of flow for the refrigerant.

19. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a substantially rectangular storage compartment accessible at the front by means of a door and having heat conducting material forming the wholly within said storage compartment and having one or more spaces to receive trays for freezing icecubes and the like, and said second cooling element being "associated with said first cooling element and in thermal contact with said liner at a'place'farthest removed'from saiddoor and over an area which-is appreciably less than 'theheig-ht, width and depth of said'compartment I so that heat from air in said compartment isconducted to said second cooling'elementat a temperature gradient in a'maj or'part of said liner;

21;. A refrigerator as set forth in claim 20in which said'second-cooling'element is formed by a member-so forme'd and secured-to said liner as to hold refrige'rant'fiuid in contact with the liner over said contact area,

22. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having I a thermally insulated storage compartment, a 20 liner of heat conducting material forming the and widthof said compartment so that heat from air in said compartment is conducted to said a second cooling element at'a temperature=gradlent 23.A refrigerator as setforth in claim 22 which said second cooling element is formed by a member constructed and arranged to hold refrigerant fluid in contactwith said liner over said contact area.

24. A refrigerator as set forth'in claim 22 in which said second cooling elementis formed by a corrugated metal sheet secured face toiacewith said liner in a mannerto hold'refrigerant fluid in contact with'the liner.

25. A refrigerator comprising a' thermally insulated storagecompartment having acmetallicv liner, refrigeration apparatus including a first cooling element and a second cooling-element,

said first cooling element being disposed wholly within said storage compartment and having one I or more spaces to receive trays for freezing ice cubes and the like; said second cooling element .formingipart of a heat transfer circuit containing refrigerant and having a portion in thermal sidg top, bottom, and rear inner walls of said compartment, and refrigeration apparatus including a first cooling element and a second cooling element, said first cooling element being disposed wholly within said storage compartment and having one or more spaces to receive trays for freezing ice cubes and the like, and said second cooling element being associated with said first cooling element andin thermal contact with said rear wall overan'area which is appreciably .less than'the area of said rear wall so that-heat fromair in said compartment is conducted at-a temperature gradient in all of said inner walls to said second cooling element. 1 Y

20. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet-having a thermallyinsulated storage compartment accessible by mcans'of a, door and having a metallic liner forminglthe inner walls of said compartment, and refrigeration apparatus including a first cooling element and a second cooling eleexchange relation with said first cooling element,

and said second cooling element including a metal 1 sheet secured face to face with said liner and formed to provide a receptacle for holding'refrigerant fluid in contact with said liner, said metal sheet extending over an area, appreciably less than the height of said compartment.

26. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated" storage compartment,

- said cabinet having a door affording access to said compartment, a liner forming the inner wall surface of said compartment, said liner being forniedof material of good thermal conductivity,

a heat transfer circuit containing a heat'trans-ifer fluid having a heat abstracting portion and a heat rejecting portion, said heat abstracting por- 1 tion being in thermal contact with-said liner so 1 that heat abstracted-from airin said storage compartment flows through said-liner to said heat abstracting portion; and 'a-cooling element! in heat exchange relation with said heat rejecting portion, said'cooiing element being positioned and arranged in said cabinet so that said door affords access thereto and being removable therefrom without disturbing said heat transfer circuit.

27. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated storage compartment,

a liner of heat conducting material forming the inner wall surface of said compartment, structure segregating one part of said compartment from the remaining part thereof, said cabinet having a door affording access to said one part and also said remaining'part of said compartment, a refrigerating unit including a cooling element, an evaporator containing a refrigerant,

said evaporator being in direct heat transmitting relation to said liner for transmitting cooli ing effect thereto, said liner having an extended surface and utilized for transmitting cooling eifect to said remaining part of said storage fer" til cooling of said one part of said compartment,

said cooling element constituting a part of a unit removable from said cabinet, and said heat transircuit being arrangedto remain in its strucand cooling effect transmission relationship to said storage compartment upon removal of said unit of which said cooling element forms a part. L

WILLIAM R. HAINSWORTH. 

